Issue link: http://hvparent.uberflip.com/i/918066
4 Hudson Valley Parent n January 2018 ON OUR COVER In this issue FEATURES 8 I am a Hudson Valley Parent Melanie Collins shares how important a sense of community is when raising a family and starting a successful coffee shop BY PAUL SMART 10 Annual Early Education Guide Choose from some of the top schools in the area for your little one 12 Me Time: Just for Women Does your skin need some TLC this winter? Facials for moms and three other beauty and fitness tips BY CASSIDY BRIGHTON 16 Strike a pose…a yoga pose that is! See how yoga and meditation throughout the day can make your kid a better student and a happier, calmer child BY CAREN BENNETT 19 Fatigue, weight gain, thinning hair… Don't blame these symptoms on the post-holiday blues BY KRISTINA LASHER 22 Is baby sign language a trend you should try? Get your kids to talk sooner and read better BY LUCIA CIVILE 26 Real Talk A new section just for moms of tweens and teens. Part 1 in a series where a professional and a mom, just like you, help you with the hard stuff when it comes to raising a teen BY DR. PAUL SCHWARTZ AND JILL VALENTINO 28 These creative kids are INCREDIBLE Meet a dancer, a young entrepreneur and a baby who's loved music since before she was born 32 Calendar Tons of seasonal crafts, story times and family fun for when the weather outside is frightful 38 New Mom Comic You've babyproofed your entire house. Too bad you can't babyproof the baby! BY ALISON WONG This month's cover kid is Mason, a 4 month old from New Windsor. He loves tummy time and is all smiles, especially when he sees his big sister. Photo by Michael Bloom HV PARENT READER FEEDBACK We asked moms: Name one trait a good teacher should have. We went to Facebook to find out what moms wanted from their kids' teachers. The response was huge! Thanks to everyone that submitted a response and helped us crack the code on what makes a great teacher. And a big thanks to the teachers out there who have ALL of these traits! With over 75 answers submitted, here are the TOP 10 responses. 1. Patience 2. Humor 3. Kindness 4. Empathy 5. Flexibility 6. Communication skills 7. Compassion 8. Love 9. Creativity 10. Passion